Fabric structure for water and soil conservation and manufacturing apparatus for the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a fabric structure for water and soil conservation and an apparatus for manufacturing the same, wherein the fabric structure includes a fabric and a plurality of holding means, the holding means is made of a plastic material with a holding means base coupled to a surface of the fabric. Thus, the fabric structure can hold a covering substance covered onto the fabric by the holding means, so as to prevent the covering substance from being washed away by rains.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fabric structure for water and soil conservation and an apparatus for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to the fabric structure capable of holding a covering substance covered onto a fabric by means of a holding means to prevent the covering substance from being washed away by rain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To prevent landslides triggered by heavy rainfall or high levels of ground water flowing through soils or sediments on the earth surface, trees are planted on both sides of a road or along the slope of a hill, such that the roots of the trees can hold the soil and stones, or cements are paved and covered onto the soil and stones to achieve the purposes of retarding the movements of soil and stones, avoiding a mudslide caused by heavy rains, as well as preventing injuries to people or damages to properties at the foot of the hill. However, it takes a long time for growing trees to hold the soil and stones, and thus the trees may even be washed away or may fall before the roots reach and hold the soil and stones. If cement is used instead, the natural scenery will be changed and ruined.

Therefore, environmental protection engineers and service providers start developing water and soil conservation products continuously to protect the natural scenery. Referring to FIG. 1 for a fabric structure for water and soil conservation 1, the fabric structure is made of an unwoven cloth 10 and laid on the earth surface 20, and the unwoven cloth 10 is covered by a covering substance 21 (such as saw dust, husk, gravel or peanut shell), so that the soil and stones of the earth surface 20 are not exposed directly, and the covering substance 21 reduces the flush force of rains 22 exerted onto the soil and stones of the earth surface 20 when it rains and prevents the rain 22 from washing away the soil on the earth surface 20, and the trees can grow steadily instead of falling down due to landslides. However, the conventional fabric structure for water and soil conservation 1 still has the following drawback. For heavy rains 22, the covering substance 21 on the unwoven cloth 10 is not fixed, and thus the covering substance 21 may be washed away by the rain 22 easily, and unable to reduce the flush force of the rain 22 anymore. Heavy rains 22 may flush the earth surface 20 directly and cause a landslide. To overcome the aforementioned drawback, it requires lots of labor and time to supplement and maintain the covering substance 21, and thus causing tremendous troubles and inconvenience. Therefore, finding a way of protecting the natural scenery and providing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation to prevent the aforementioned issues demands immediate attentions and feasible solutions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a fabric structure for water and soil conservation and an apparatus for manufacturing the same in accordance with the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a fabric structure for water and soil conservation, the fabric structure comprises a fabric and a plurality of holding means, wherein the holding means is made of a plastic material, and a holding means base is coupled to a surface of the fabric for holding a soil covering substance and preventing rains from flushing the earth surface directly, so that the fabric structure can securely hold the covering substance that is covered onto the fabric by the holding means to prevent the covering substance from being washed away by rains. To overcome the shortcoming of the conventional fabric structure for water and soil conservation, which requires lots of labor and time for supplementing and maintaining the covering substances, as well as effectively reducing the flush force of the rain on the earth surface and preventing the rain from directly washing away the soil on the earth surface, so as to greatly improve the effects of the water and soil conservation.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fabric structure for securely holding the covering substance thereon, so as to prevent weed seeds from spreading on the earth surface under the fabric structure, as well as preventing sunlight from projecting on the weeds under the fabric structure to achieve the purposes of effectively suppressing the growth of weeds, saving the labor, time and money for removing weeds, and reducing the use of weedicides to achieve the environmental protection effect.

A further objective of the preset invention is to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation, and the manufacturing apparatus has a base, and the base has at least one mold portion each having a plurality of ditches for receiving the holding means, and the top of the holding means can be accommodated in the ditch, and the holding means base is exposed on the upper edge of the ditch, and the base further includes at least one ultrasonic bonding portion disposed at a position corresponding to each mold portion. When the fabric is moved between the mold portion and the ultrasonic bonding portion, a surface of the fabric is attached onto the holding means base that is exposed on the mold portion, and the ultrasonic bonding portion abuts another surface of the fabric at the position corresponding to the holding means base, so that the holding means base is melted by ultrasonic waves and can be bonded integrally with the fibers of the fabric. Therefore, the manufacturing apparatus can be used for manufacturing the fabric structure quickly.

To make it easier for our examiner to understand the objective, technical characteristics and effects of the present invention, preferred embodiments will be described with accompanying drawings as follows;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an application of a conventional fabric structure for water and soil conservation;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an application of a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic view of an application of a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an application of a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a mold portion of the apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a mold portion of an apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 2 illustrating a fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with the present invention, the fabric structure 3 is laid on the earth surface 20, and the fabric structure 3 comprises a fabric 30 and a plurality of holding means 4, wherein the holding means 4 is made of a plastic material, and the holding means base 40 is coupled to a surface of the fabric 30, and the holding means 4 are arranged in a plurality of rows on the fabric 30 for holding the covering substance 21 and preventing the covering substance 21 (such as saw dust, husk, gravel or peanut shell) covered on the soil of the earth surface 20 from directly being washed away by the rains 22, so as to effectively reduce the flush force of the rain 22 exerted onto the earth surface 20 and prevent the rain 22 from directly washing away the soil of the earth surface 20, and greatly enhance the effect of water and soil conservation. Further, the fabric structure 3 can be used for securely holding and covering the covering substance 21 thereon, and such arrangement not only avoids weed seeds from spreading on the earth surface 20 under the fabric structure 3, but also prevents sunlight from projecting on the weeds under the fabric structure 3 to effectively suppress the growth of weeds.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fabric 30 is an unwoven cloth, and the holding means 4 are arranged alternately on two adjacent rows of the fabric 30, and the holding means 4 has at least one hook extended to a direction opposite to the holding means base 40 for holding the covering substance 21 covered on the fabric 30 more securely, and the hook will not pierce or hurt people. If the fabric structure 3 is laid on a slope, the fabric structure 3 can also effectively reduce the flush force of the rain 22 exerted on the earth surface 20 and prevent the rain 22 from washing away the soil on the earth surface 20 directly, and greatly enhance the effect of water and soil conservation. Further, the fabric structure 3 can securely hold the covering substance 21 covered thereon, and such arrangement not only avoids weed seeds from spreading on the earth surface 20 under the fabric structure 3, but also prevents sunlight from projecting on the weeds under the fabric structure 3 to effectively suppress the growth of weeds.

In the foregoing preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fabric 30 is an unwoven cloth, or substituted by a fabric 30 made of a different material depending on the actual design of the fabric structure 3. As long as the fabric 30 can be laid on the earth surface 20, such fabric 30 can be used. The way of arranging a plurality of rows of holding means 4 on the fabric 30 is not limited to the alternate arrangement of two adjacent rows of holding means 4 on the fabric 30, but also can be any other arrangement (such as aligned arrangement or irregular arrangement) depending on the actual design of the fabric structure 3. As long as the holding means 4 can securely hold the covering substance 21 covered on the fabric 30, such arrangement can be used. Further, the end extended from the holding means 4 in a direction opposite to the holding means base 40 can be in a cylindrical shape (as shown in FIG. 4) depending on the actual design of the fabric structure 3 or in other form for the equivalent purpose. As long as the holding means 4 can hold the covering substance 21 on the fabric 30 securely, such design can be used.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrating an apparatus 5 for manufacturing the fabric structure for water and soil conservation in accordance with the present invention, the manufacturing apparatus 5 comprises a base 50, at least one first mold portion 6 and at least one ultrasonic bonding portion 7, wherein the first mold portion 6 is arranged on the base 50 and has a plurality of first ditches 60, and each first ditch 60 is provided for receiving the holding means 4, and the holding means base 40 is exposed on an upper edge of the first ditch 60, and the top of the holding means 4 is accommodated in the bottom edge of the first ditch 60, and each ultrasonic bonding portion 7 is disposed on the base 50 and at a position corresponding to each first mold portion 6. If the fabric 30 (as shown in FIG. 3) is delivered between the first mold portion 6 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, a surface of the fabric 30 is attached onto the holding means base 40 exposed on the upper edge of the first ditch 60 on the first mold portion 6, and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 abuts another surface of the fabric 30 corresponding to the position of each holding means base 40. The holding means base 40 is melted by ultrasonic waves produced by the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, such that the melted holding means base 40 can be bonded integrally with the fibers of the fabric 30, and the fabric structure 3 can be manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 5 quickly.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an end of the base 50 has a coiling portion 500, for installing the fabric 30 (as shown in FIG. 3), such that if the fabric 30 is delivered between the first mold portion 6 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, and another end of the base 50 has another coiling portion 501 for receiving the fabric structure 3 bonded with the holding means 4, then the manufacturing apparatus 5 will use the coiling portion 500 to deliver the fabric 30 between the first mold portion 6 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, and bond the holding means 4 to a surface of the fabric 30 to form the fabric structure 3, and the fabric structure 3 is stored to another end of another coiling portion 501, so that when the manufacturing apparatus 5 is used for producing the fabric structure 3, we can effectively save the labor to move or store the fabric 30.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the manufacturing apparatus 5 includes at least one sliding portion 8 disposed between the first mold portion 6 and the base 50, and both ends of the sliding portion 8 are extended from both sides of the base 50, and the first mold portion 6 can be moved along the sliding portion 8 towards a side of the base 50, such that when the first mold portion 6 is moved along the sliding portion 8 to a side of the base 50, the holding means 4 is received into the first ditch 60, and after the first ditch 60 accommodates the holding means 4, the first mold portion 6 is moved along the sliding portion 8 towards the base 50 until it reaches a position corresponding to the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, such that the holding means base 40 is melted and coupled onto a surface of the fabric 30 through the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 (as shown in FIG. 3).

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the manufacturing apparatus 5 includes at least one second mold portion 61 movably disposed on the sliding portion 8 adjacent to each first mold portion 6, and the second first mold portion 61 includes a plurality of second ditches 62, and each second ditch 62 is used for receiving the holding means 4, and the holding means base 40 is exposed on an upper edge of the second ditch 62, and the top of the holding means 4 is received at a bottom edge of the second ditch 62. Further, the second mold portion 61 can be moved along the sliding portion 8 towards the first mold portion 6 at a side of the base 50, or moved along the sliding portion 8 towards the base 50 to a position corresponding to the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, such that if the first mold portion 6 is situated at a position corresponding to the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 and the holding means base 40 is melted and coupled to a surface of the fabric 30 through the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 (as shown in FIG. 3), the second mold 61 adjacent to the first mold portion 6 is disposed at a side of the base 50. After the holding means 4 accommodated in the first ditch 60 on the first mold portion 6 is coupled to the fabric 30, the fabric 30 will be moved in a predetermined distance along the base 50, the first mold portion 6 will be moved along the sliding portion 8 out from the base 50 and towards a side of the base 50, the second mold portion 61 will be moved along the sliding portion 8 towards the base 50 to a position corresponding to the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, and the holding means base 40 accommodated in the second ditch 62 on the second mold portion 61 is then melted and coupled to a surface of the fabric 30 through the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 (as shown in FIG. 3). Thus, the manufacturing apparatus 5 only needs to repeat the aforementioned procedure in order to set and bond the holding means 4 simultaneously and effectively expedite the production rate.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first ditches 60 are arranged into a row on each first mold portion 6, and the second ditches 62 are also arranged into a row on each second mold portion 61, such that if the fabric 30 (as shown in FIG. 3) is delivered between the first mold portion 6 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, or between the second mold portion 61 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7, the holding means 4 in the first ditches 60 or the second ditches 62 can be bonded onto the fabric 30 row by row to form the fabric structure 3.

In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the method of arranging the first ditches 60 on each first mold portion 6 is not limited to a row on the first mold portion 6, but other methods can be used depending on the actual design of the manufacturing apparatus 5. For instance, the first ditches 60 can be arranged into a plurality of rows on each first mold portion 6 (as shown in FIG. 7), and in a form of alternately disposed on two adjacent rows on each first mold portion 6 or any other arrangement method. As long as the holding means 4 can be accommodated in the first ditch 60 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 can bond the holding means 4 onto a surface of the fabric 30 (as shown in FIG. 3), such arrangement can be used. The method of arranging second ditches 62 on each second mold portion 61 is not limited to a row on the second mold portion 61, but other methods can be used depending on the actual design of the manufacturing apparatus 5. For instance, the first ditch 60 can be arranged into a plurality of rows on each second mold portion 61 (as shown in FIG. 7), and in a form of alternately disposed on two adjacent rows on each second mold portion 61 or any other arrangement method. As long as the holding means 4 can be accommodated in the second ditch 62 and the ultrasonic bonding portion 7 can bond the holding means 4 onto a surface of the fabric 30 (as shown in FIG. 3), such arrangement can be used.

While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 

1. A fabric structure for water and soil conservation, laid on the earth surface and comprising; a fabric; and a plurality of holding means, made of a plastic material and each having a base coupled to a surface of the fabric, and the holding means are arranged into a plurality of rows on the fabric.
 2. The fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 1, wherein the holding means arranged into two adjacent rows on the fabric are alternate with each other.
 3. The fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 1, wherein the holding means has at least one hook extended towards a direction opposite to the base of the holding means.
 4. The fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 1, wherein the fabric is an unwoven cloth.
 5. An apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation, comprising; a base; at least one first mold portion, sequentially arranged on the base, and having a plurality of first ditches thereon, and each first ditch is used for receiving a holding means, and the base of the holding means is exposed on an upper edge of the first ditch, and the top of the holding means is accommodated into a bottom edge of the first ditch; and at least one ultrasonic bonding portion, disposed on the base and at a position corresponding to the first mold portion, such that if a fabric is delivered between the first mold portion and the ultrasonic bonding portion, a surface of the fabric is attached onto the first mold portion and the base of the holding means exposed on the upper edge of the first ditch, and the ultrasonic bonding portion abuts another surface of the fabric at a position corresponding to the base of the holding means, and the holding means base is melted by ultrasonic waves produced by the ultrasonic bonding portion, such that the melted base of the holding means is bonded integrally with the fibers of the fabric.
 6. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 5, wherein the base has a coiling portion disposed at an end of the base for installing the fabric, such that when the fabric is delivered between the first mold portion and the ultrasonic bonding portion, another end of the base provides another coiling portion for accommodating the fabric structure bonded with the holding means.
 7. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 5, wherein the first ditches are arranged into a row on the first mold portion.
 8. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 5, wherein the first ditches are arranged into a plurality of rows on the first mold portion, and the first ditches arranged into two adjacent rows on the first mold portion are alternate with each other.
 9. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 5, wherein the manufacturing apparatus includes at least one sliding portion disposed between the first mold portion and the base, and both ends of the sliding portion are extended from both sides of the base, and the first mold portion is moved along the sliding portion towards the base to a position corresponding to the ultrasonic bonding portion or out from the side of the base.
 10. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 9, wherein the manufacturing apparatus includes at least one second mold portion movably disposed on the sliding portion adjacent to each first mold portion, and the second mold portion includes a plurality of second ditches for receiving the holding means, and the base of the holding means is exposed on an upper edge of the second ditch, and the top of the holding means is accommodated into a bottom edge of the second ditch, and the second mold portion can be moved along the sliding portion towards the base to a position corresponding to the ultrasonic bonding portion or out from the base to a position opposite to the first mold portion.
 11. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 10, wherein the second ditches are arranged into a row on the second mold portion.
 12. The apparatus for manufacturing a fabric structure for water and soil conservation as recited in claim 10, wherein the second ditches are arranged into a plurality of rows on the second mold portion, and the second ditches arranged into two adjacent rows on the second mold portion are alternate with each other. 